40 Days of Prayer

Jonah began by going a day’s journey into the city, proclaiming, “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown.” The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth.
– Jonah 3:4-5

When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened.
– Jonah 3:10

“This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one
– Matthew 6:9-13

Preparation

 

Day 1 – Wednesday Connect Prayer | Wednesday, February 24
“There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call.”
–Ephesians 4:4
Father, thank You that I am a part of Your Church and that the Church provides hope for the world.

Day 2 – Be Still | Thursday, February 25
“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” –
Psalm 46:10
Father, thank You that I can stop striving in this moment and trust that You are taking care of all that I
need.

Day 3 – Persistence | Friday, February 26
“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” –
Galatians 9:9
Father, I commit myself to You. Help me hang in there and stay close to You, even when it gets
difficult.

Day 4 – Salvation for Others | Saturday, February 27
Father, please bring [neighbor, friend or family member’s name] to You. Help them trust You and seek
You to be their foundation

Our Father in Heaven

 

Day 5 – Personal Holiness | Sunday, February 28
“Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any
grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” –Psalm 139:23-24
Father, search my heart. Show me ways that I need to grow closer to You. Help me be attentive to
You today.

Day 6 – Our Father is Caring | Monday, March 1
“As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him.” –
Psalm 103:13
Father, I thank you that You care for me and my struggles.

 

Day 7 – Our Father is Consistent | Tuesday, March 2
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who
does not change like shifting shadows.” –James 1:17
Father, thank you that You are unchanging in Your good nature, and in Your steadfast love for me.

Day 8 – Wednesday Connect Prayer | Wednesday, March 3
“And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with
the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy
of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of
God. May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and
patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the
saints in light.” –Colossians 1:9-12
Father, thank you for the faith of our fellow brothers and sisters, and for providing us with the
knowledge of who You are. We stand together as one to bring glory to your name.

Day 9 – Our Father is Close | Thursday, March 4
‘God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not
far from any one of us.” –Acts 17:27
Father, thank you that You are always with us, and that You have made yourself available to us.

 

Day 10 – Our Father is Capable | Friday, March 5
“For nothing will be impossible with God.” –Luke 1:37
Father, thank you that You are all powerful, and that there is not anything outside of Your control.
Day 11 – Salvation for Others | Saturday, March 6
Father, please bring [neighbor, friend or family member’s name] to You. Help them trust You and seek
You to be their foundation

Your Will Be Done

 

Day 12 – Personal Holiness | Sunday, March 7
“Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any
grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” –Psalm 139:23-24
Father, help me understand how the trials of my life are breaking and building me. Help me stay close
to You in the trials and to be persistent in my faith. Help me be sensitive to You today.

Day 13 – Letting Go of Control | Monday, March 8
“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” –
Psalm 46:10
Father, align my desires to yours, so that I will trust Your will for my life.

Day 14 – Learning to have Contentment | Tuesday, March 9
“Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I
know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have
learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him
who strengthens me.” –Philippians 4:11-13
Father, teach me to find my joy, peace, and purpose in You.

Day 15 – Wednesday Connect Prayer | Wednesday, March 10
“Hear my prayer, O Lord; give ear to my pleas for mercy! In your faithfulness answer me, in your
righteousness! Enter not into judgment with your servant, for no one living is righteous before you. For
the enemy has pursued my soul; he has crushed my life to the ground; he has made me sit in darkness
like those long dead. Therefore my spirit faints within me; my heart within me is appalled. I remember
the days of old; I meditate on all that you have done; I ponder the work of your hands. I stretch out my
hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. Selah
Answer me quickly, O Lord! My spirit fails! Hide not your face from me, lest I be like those who go
down to the pit. Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the
way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord! I have fled to you
for refuge. Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level
ground!” –Psalms 143:1-10
Dear Father, open up opportunities of evangelism and discipleship for our church city wide, and help us
to reach the world through our city.

 

Day 16 – Laying Down Our Plans | Thursday, March 11
“By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the
brothers.” –1 John 3:16
Father, please use my life to glorify Your name, and to share Your love with others.

 

Day 17 – Leaving the Future in His Hands | Friday, March 12
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways
acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” –Proverbs 3:5-6
Father, I trust You. Help me trust you with all of my heart. Even when I do not understand life, I want
to trust You, I choose to trust You.

 

Day 18 – Salvation for Others | Saturday, March 13
Father, please bring [neighbor, friend or family member’s name] to You. Help them trust You and seek
You to be their foundation

Give Us Today Our Daily Bread

 

Day 19 – Personal Holiness | Sunday, March 14
“Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any
grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” –Psalm 139:23-24
Father, I know that You know me better than anyone, better than I know myself. I open my thoughts
and life to You willingly, I want to hide nothing from you. Help me listen to You today and follow
Your direction this week.

 

Day 20 – Seeing God as the Source | Monday, March 15
“Give us this day our daily bread” –Matthew 6:11
Father, I realize that You are the source for all of my needs. I trust that You will provide for all of my
needs.

 

Day 21 – Seeing God as the Supplier | Tuesday, March 16
“And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” –
Philippians 4:19
Father, even when it is hard to believe, I trust that You will take care of all my needs.

 

Day 22 – Wednesday Connect Prayer | Wednesday, March 17
“But you, O God my Lord, deal on my behalf for your name’s sake; because your steadfast love is
good, deliver me! For I am poor and needy, and my heart is stricken within me. I am gone like a
shadow at evening; I am shaken off like a locust. My knees are weak through fasting; my body has
become gaunt, with no fat. I am an object of scorn to my accusers; when they see me, they wag their
heads. Help me, O Lord my God! Save me according to your steadfast love! Let them know that this is
your hand; you, O Lord, have done it! Let them curse, but you will bless! They arise and are put to
shame, but your servant will be glad! May my accusers be clothed with dishonor; may they be wrapped
in their own shame as in a cloak! With my mouth I will give great thanks to the Lord; I will praise him
in the midst of the throng. For he stands at the right hand of the needy one, to save him from those who
condemn his soul to death.” –Psalms 109:21-31
Father, we pray for wisdom and discernment as we continue to learn and grow. Help us to apply Your
heart, Spirit and teachings in our lives. To have courageous conversations and love ALL people.

 

Day 23 – Seeing God as the Giver | Thursday, March 18
“If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your
Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!” –Matthew 7:11
Father, even when it is hard to believe, I trust that You will take care of all my needs.

 

Day 24 – Seeing God as He Waits on Me to Ask | Friday, March 19
You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You
do not have, because you do not ask.” –James 4:2
Father, I know that You want good things for me. Help me be bold and learn to talk to You about what
I need and desire. Thank You that You pay attention to me.

 

Day 25 – Salvation for Others | Saturday, March 20
Father, please bring [neighbor, friend or family member’s name] to You. Help them trust You and seek
You to be their foundation

Forgive Us Our Debts

 

Day 26 – Personal Holiness | Sunday, March 21
“Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any
grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” –Psalm 139:23-24
Father, show me any hurtful habits or relationships that I have protected from You. I want to open my
heart and change, help me to change. Give me the strength to follow You with all of my heart. Help me
hear Your voice today and follow You.

 

Day 27 – Review Every Area of Your Life | Monday, March 22
“Let us test and examine our ways, and return to the Lord!” –Lamentations 3:40
Father, help me to see where I am walking outside of your will, and help me to return to the fullness of
your will.

 

Day 28 – Repent of Sin | Tuesday, March 23
“Let us lift up our hearts and hands to God in heaven: “We have transgressed and rebelled, and you
have not forgiven.” –Lamentations 3:41-42
Father, turn my mind and heart from my sins, and help me to press into Your grace.

 

Day 29 – Wednesday Connect Prayer | Wednesday, March 24

“I prayed to the LORD my God and made confession, saying, ‘O Lord, the great and awesome God,
who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, we have
sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and
rules. We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our
princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land.’” –Daniel 9:4-6
Father, please forgive us as each of us – in our own ways have acted wickedly and have rebelled –
Please seek us and help us to identify – confess and repent of our sin.

 

Day 30 – Resolve Restitution | Thursday, March 25
“And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, ‘Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And
if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation
has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham.’” –Luke 19:8-9
Father, lead me to try to make good for any harm or wrong that I have done to another.

 

Day 31 – Receive God’s Forgiveness | Friday, March 26
“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find
grace to help in time of need.” –Hebrews 4:16
Father, I am sorry for all of the ways I sin against you and others. Please forgive me. Your word tells
me that I can come to You, knowing that You love me and have grace for all of my faults. Thank you
that you accept me as I am.

 

Day 32 – Salvation for Others | Saturday, March 27
Father, please bring [neighbor, friend or family member’s name] to You. Help them trust You and seek
You to be their foundation

As We Also have Forgiven Our Debtors

 

Day 33 – Personal Holiness | Sunday, March 28
“Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any
grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” –Psalm 139:23-24
Father, lead me to live my life according to Your grace. Help me to live a life that serves as a light to
others and as a representative of Your ways. Help me to understand Your grace, Your peace, and Your
purpose.

 

Day 34 – God Forgives Me | Monday, March 29
“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” –
Ephesians 4:32
Father, help me to be kind and tenderhearted and forgiving one another as You in Christ forgave me.

 

Day 35 – Bitterness Only Hurts Me | Tuesday, March 30
“One dies in his full vigor, being wholly at ease and secure, his pails full of milk and the marrow of his
bones moist. Another dies in bitterness of soul, never having tasted of prosperity.” –Job 21:23-25
Father, help my soul not to be bitter against others. Help me to rest in your goodness and love.

 

Day 36 – Wednesday Connect Prayer | Wednesday, March 31
“Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD, O my soul! I will praise the LORD as long as I live; I will sing
praises to my God while I have my being. Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there
is no salvation. When his breath departs, he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish.
Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God, who made heaven

and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, who keeps faith forever; who executes justice for the
oppressed, who gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets the prisoners free; the LORD opens the eyes of the blind. The LORD lifts up those who
are bowed down; the LORD loves the righteous. The LORD watches over the sojourners; he upholds
the widow and the fatherless, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin. The LORD will reign forever,
your God, O Zion, to all generations. Praise the LORD!” –Psalm 146:1-10
Father, thank you for the life of all people. Thank you that you have allowed us to be in fellowship with
each other. We pray for all of our families – and the families of our brothers and sisters – Help us to
love deeply from the heart and strive to connect.

 

Day 37 – I Need Forgiveness | Thursday, April 1
“For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not
forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” –Matthew 6:14-15
Father, please forgive me of my sins as I forgive others sins against me.

 

Day 38 – Leave Vengeance to God | Friday, April 2
“Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is
mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’” –Romans 12:19
Father, help me to extend grace and forgiveness to others as You alone are just and righteous.

 

Day 39 – Salvation for Others | Saturday, April 3
Father, please bring [neighbor, friend or family member’s name] to You. Help them trust You and seek
You to be their foundation

Lead Us Not Into Temptation, But Deliver Us From The Evil One

 

Day 40 – Personal Holiness | Sunday, April 4
“Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any
grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” –Psalm 139:23-24

Search me today Father, I open my heart to You. I open my mind to You. Show me how I am falling
short of the life You have for me. Help me to see how my sin affects you and those around me. I pray
that others would see You in me today.